Compare towns
Lancaster vs Peru vs Upton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lancaster | Peru | Upton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
630Lowest |
8,189 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Peru and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
— | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.